According to a study on conflicts of interest in the field of medicine conducted by the Congressional investigators, consultation fees amounting to $2.8 million was received by a well known psychiatrist from Emory University for evaluating drugs produced by companies and not reporting at least a third of it.
This is the latest in a series of allegations. Allegations resulting from the probe against Dr.Charles B.Nemeroff are very striking and may lead to major revamp and alterations in the relationship between drug companies and popular academics.
Nemeroff who investigated five Glaxo drugs used for treating the condition of depression was part of the $3.9 million studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health. He was paid the amount by Glaxo SmithKline between the years 2000 and 2007 for this. This was revealed to the Congressional record by Sen.Charles E.Grassley who was the initiator of this investigation.
Inquiry also revealed that in spite of pledging to the university not to receive more than $10,000 a year from a particular company, Nemeroff took huge money and gave speeches to other physicians too.
Nemeroff responded to the allegations by resigning from the post of the psychiatry department chairman on Friday at Emory. Though he did not answer e mails or phone calls, Nemeroff as revealed by university sources said he has not till date done anything against the university in financial matters to the best of his knowledge.
Until now, congressential investigations have pulled up at least six psychiatrists since spring in similar conflicts.
